Until a little while ago, FICO scores had little to do with mortgage lending. Underwriters made decisions based on payment history and income-to-debt ratios. But they began to look at the relationship between credit scores and mortgage delinquencies. People with low FICO scores defaulted on loans with far greater frequency than did their higher scoring peers. Your FICO scores may differ slightly between the three national credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. In general, however, each agency uses the following issues to determine your score.

1. Delinquencies. A 30-day late payment is not as risky as a 90-day late payment. Still, it’s best to avoid either.
2. New credit. Creditors expect you to open accounts in order to establish credit, but you run the risk of reducing your score by opening several credit accounts in a short period of time. It suggests you are overextended and may not be able to meet new credit obligations.
3. Short credit history. A longer credit history is more impressive than a newly established one.
4. Balances on revolving accounts near maximum limits. A consumer close to “maxing out” cards may have trouble making payments in the future.
5. Public records (tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies). These all jeopardize a healthy FICO score.
6. Consumer credit agencies. Although they offer consumers lower interest rates and credit counseling, the use of credit counseling services negatively affects FICO scores.
7. No recent credit card balances. Having a very small balance without late payments can improve your FICO, showing that you manage credit responsibly.
8. Too few revolving accounts. If you fail to use credit, there is no way to evaluate your ability to manage it.
9. Too many revolving accounts. Multiple revolving accounts suggest a high risk of over-extension.

Credit scores can affect your interest rate. Some lenders establish lower interest for high FICO scores and higher interest for low scores. Some will not loan at all to people with low FICOs. And other lenders specialize in finding loans for the FICO-score challenged. If you have less than perfect credit, you can find a lender who will work with you.